Anglican Church Intercedes as an Episcopal Rift Widens
By NEELA BANERJEE
Published: May 5, 2007

WASHINGTON, May 4 — The archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, has waded into a gathering dispute over efforts by conservative congregations in this country to break away from the Episcopal Church.

On Saturday, the archbishop of Nigeria, Peter J. Akinola, is scheduled to preside over a ceremony in Virginia to install a bishop to lead congregations around the country that want to leave the Episcopal Church, in large part because of its liberal stance on homosexuality.

The archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has asked Archbishop Akinola to cancel his visit, a spokesman said.

That echoes the request of Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, the American branch of Anglicanism. She contends that by attending the ceremony, Archbishop Akinola would heighten tensions between the Episcopal Church and many in the 77-million-member Anglican Communion.
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